Handled carton



C. W. SHERMAN HANDLED CARTON Aug. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1956 INVENTOR. CLARK W. SHERMAN A TTO R/VEK? C. W. SHERMAN HANDLED CARTON Aug. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1956 FIG] FIG.8

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INVENTOR. CLARK W. SHERMAN FIG.6

A T TO RNEVS United States Patent HANDLED CARTON Clark W. Sherman, Scappoose, Oreg. Application July 19, 1956, Serial No. 598,799

6 Claims. (Cl. 22941) The present invention relates to a foldably erectable carton and more particularly to a foldably erectable handled carton.

It is advantageous in self-service grocery stores and the like to display such merchandise as small fruits and vegetables in prepacked cartons which the purchaser may pick up. It has been found that if such cartons are provided with handles by which they may be carried, sales are increased impressively over the number of sales made of similar cartons without handles. Accordingly, many attempts have been made heretofore to provide handled cartons which may be used for the purpose set forth above. Certain of these prior cartons had to be shipped erected'and required an excessive amount of shipping space. Others were difficult to erect and required so much time of the personnel to erect and load that they were economically unfeasible. Other quickly erectable cartons were not suitable to have handles provided thereon.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a carton which may be shipped in a fiat, folded condition with a handle attached thereto and which may be quickly and easily erected.

It is another object of the invention to provide a quick opening carton of the type described adapted to have handles attached thereto by fast operating, automatic machines.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent hereinafter.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the present invention comprises a carton made of a single sheet of paperboard or the like having two opposite side walls to which are attached the opposite ends of a handle which extends over the open top of the carton. Extending between the side walls are opposite end walls scored so that the carton may be collapsed by folding the end walls inwardly between the side walls as the latter are moved directly towards one another so that in the collapsed condition of the carton the side walls are substantially coextensive with one another. Bottom panels extend from each of the side walls and flaps extend from the end walls secured to the bottom panels in such fashion that upon pulling the end walls outwardly, the side walls are moved apart and the end flaps are moved downwardly to pull the bottom flaps into a flat, hori- Zontal position.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description thereof.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view partly broken away showing the carton. in the last stages of erection;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View on a reduced scale of the carton of the invention in a partially erected condition;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the completely collapsed carton;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the erected carton;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the erected carton;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the'cut and scored carton blank;

Fig. 6. The carton is rectangular in shape and, referring. to Figs. 1 and 6, comprises two opposite side walls 10,, 12 and interconnecting end walls 14, 16. In the carton. as illustrated, the end wall 14 is positioned between the side walls 10, 12 and separated therefrom by score lines- 18, 20, respectively. The end wall 16 is positioned on the opposite side of the side wall 12 and is separated therefrom by a score line 22. Extending from the opposite edge of the end wall 16 is a glue flap 24 which isv foldable along a score line 26 into overlapping engagement with the side wall 10, as shown in Fig. 1.

Integral with and extending one from each of the side walls 10, 12 are bottom panels 28, 30, respectively. The panel 28 is foldable upwardly against the inner side of the wall it) along a score line 32, and the bottom panel 30 is similarly foldable upwardly against the side wall 12 along a score line 34, as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The bottom panel 23 has a width slightly greater than half the width of the end walls 14, 16, while the bottom panel 30 preferably has a still greater width, for a purpose to be made clear hereinafter.

The end wall 14 is provided with a score line 36 medially between and parallel to the score lines 18, 24) along the opposite edges thereof, and the end wall 16 is provided with a score line 33 medially between and parallel to the score lines 22, 26, along the opposite edges thereof.

Connected to the lower edges of the end walls 14, 16 along fold lines 39, 41, respectively, are the generally triangular base sections of flaps 4t 42, respectively, the base of each of the flaps being substantially coextensive with the corresponding wall. The flap 4% is pro vided with a score line 44 formed as an extension of and parallel to the score line 36 in the end wall 14. Similarly, the fiap 42 is provided with a score line 46 formed as an extension of and parallel to the score line 38 of the end wall 16.

Extending from one side edge of the base section of the flap 40 and hingedly connected thereto along a score line 43 is a glue tab 50. Extending from a side edge of the base section of the flap 42 and hingedly connected thereto along a score line 52 is a glue tab 54. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the glue tab 50 is secured by suitable adhesive to the bottom surface of the bottom panel 28 while the glue tab 54 is secured to the bottom surface of the bottom panel 36.

It will be noted that the free side edge 56 of the flap 40 intersects the score line 44 at the intersection of the latter with the fold line 48, whereas the free side edge 58 of the flap 42 is spaced from the point of intersection of the fold line 52 and score line 46. This preferred construction of the flap 42 gives it greater width and hence gives more support to the bottom of the carton. As will be known to those skilled in the art, the above noted construction of the flap 4b is required to permit 3 such as by gluing to the outer surface of the side walls 10, 12 medially between the opposite ends thereof.

As may be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the carton is adapted to be collapsed into a flat, folded condition with the side walls 10, 12 coextensive to one another by folding the bottom panel 30 upwardly against the side wall 12 and the bottom panel 28 upwardly against the side wall 10. The end walls 14, 16 are folded inwardly along the score lines 36, 38, respectively, and the end flaps 40, 42 are folded upwardly and between the side walls and bottom panels 28, 30.

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, an advantage of the cartons of the invention resides in the fact that the flat, folded cartons are adapted to have the handle 60 attached thereto quickly and inexpensively such as by the apparatus and method of Grants Patent No. 2,635,510. In accordance with that patent, the flat, folded cartons are fed with a continuous movement, top end first, in the direction indicated in Fig. 7, toward a length of paper strap 60 previously severed from the supply roll and having opposite end portions 62 coated with a suitable adhesive. As the carton approaches the strap 60, the latter is doubled upon itself, as indicated in Fig. 8, with the adhesive coated surfaces facing the carton. The carton is carried along and fed between the ends of the strap 60 simultaneously with the folding of the latter so that by the time the folding of the strap upon itself is completed, the opposite end portions of the handle strap engage with the opposite outer surfaces of the side walls 10, 12 of the carton, as illustrated in Fig. 9. Pressure is then applied upon the assembly and maintained until the adhesive has set.

The handled cartons are shipped flat folded in the condition shown in Figs. 3 and 9 to the consumer, such as a grocer, who may erect the individual cartons quickly and easily by simply pulling out the end walls 14, 16 of the collapsed carton. This causes the side walls 10, 12 to move apart and the end flaps 40, 42 to fold downwardly toward a fiat, horizontal position. Since the flaps 40, 42 are secured by the glue tabs 50, 54 to the bottom panels 28, 30, respectively, the bottom panels will be pulled downwardly towards the flat, horizontal position simultaneously as the end walls are pulled out. The bottom panel 28 is preferably of lesser width than the panel 30 as previously described so that the panel 28 will fold smoothly beneath the panel 30. Thus, the carton may be opened ready to be filled by pulling out the end walls 14, 16 in a single, quickly executed movement.

Because of its design, the handled carton may be manufactured and sold at a minimum 'of cost and a minimum of time is required in erecting the carton, making it feasible for grocers and the like to use the same.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention permits of modification in arrangement and detail. I .claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsed, foldably erectable carton comprising a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end walls connected along parallel fold lines, said end walls each having a fold line medially between and parallel to the opposite edges thereof and being infolded between said side walls, and said side walls being coextensive with one another, a bottom comprising two panels formed as extensions one to each of said side Walls, and two flaps formed as extensions one to each of said end walls, said flaps being infolded upwardly against the respective end wall and between said bottom panels, and means fixedly attaching said flaps one to each of said panels so as to cause a panel and corresponding flap to fold downwardly together, whereby drawing of said end walls outwardly causes said flaps and bottom panels simultaneously to fold downwardly toward a flat horizontal position.

2. A carton as set forth in claim 1 having a handle comprising a length of strap folded medially upon itself, the opposite ends of said strap being secured one to each of said side walls.

3. A rectangular carton formed of paperboard or like stiff material, said carton comprising a pair of non-folding side walls and a pair of end walls having score lines to permit the same to infold between said side walls, and said side walls to be collapsed coextensively with one another, a pair of rectangular bottom panels integral one with each of said side walls along the lower edge thereof and foldable upwardly against the corresponding side wall, a pair of flaps integral one with each of said end walls and extending on each of the opposite sides of said end wall score lines, each of said flaps having a score line formed as an extension of and parallel to the respective said end wall score line and being foldable upwardly against the corresponding end wall as it is infolded between said side walls, and means fixedly attaching said flaps to the bottom surface of said panels whereby said flaps and said panels are pulled downwardly as said end walls are pulled outwardly as aforesaid.

4. A collapsed, foldably erectable carton comprising a one-piece blank cut and scored to form a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end walls connected along parallel fold lines, said end Walls each having a fold line medially between and parallel to the opposite edges thereof and being infolded therealong between said side walls, said side walls being coextensive with one another, a bottom comprising two panels formed as extensions one to each of said side walls, said panels being infolded against the corresponding side wall, two flaps formed as extensions one to each of said end walls and extending on each of the opposite sides of the fold line of the corresponding end wall, said flaps each having a score line formed as an extension of and parallel to the respective end wall score line said flaps being folded against the corresponding end wall and between said panels, each of said flaps having a tab extending therefrom, and means attaching said tabs to the bottom surface, one to each of said panels, whereby pulling said end walls outwardly causes said flaps and said panels to be pulled toward a flat, horizontal position.

5. A foldably erectable carton comprising a one-piece blank cut and scored to form a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end walls connected along parallel fold lines, said end walls each having a fold line medially between and parallel to the opposite edges thereof, and a bottom comprising two panels formed as extensions one to each of said side walls and two flaps having generally triangular base sections formed as extensions one to each of said end walls, said panels being rectangular and having a length equal to that of the side walls and a width slightly greater than half of the width of the end walls, said flaps each including a base coextensive with the corresponding end wall, each of said flaps having a score line formed as an extension of and parallel to the respective said end wall score line, each of said flaps having a glue tab integral with and foldable along one side edge of the flap, said tabs being secured one to each of said panels on the bottom surface thereof, said carton being disposed in a flat, collapsed state with said side walls coextensive one another, and with said end walls, panels and flaps infolded between said side walls, whereby by drawing said end walls outwardly said panels and flaps will fold downwardly into flat horizontal bottom closing position.

6. A collapsible carton comprising a one-piece blank cut and scored to form a pair of opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end walls connected along parallel fold lines, said end walls each having a fold line medially between and parallel to the opposite edges thereof, and a bottom comprising two panels formed as extensions one to each of said side Walls and two flaps formed as extensions one to each of said end walls, said panels each being rectangular and having a length equal to that of the side walls and a width slightly greater than half of the width of the end walls so that one slightly overlaps the other, said flaps each including a triangular base section coextensive with the corresponding end Wall and having an apex substantially at the center line of the carton, each of said flaps having a score line fonmed as an extension of and parallel to the respective said end wall score line, each of said flaps having a glue tab integral with and foldable along one side edge of theflaps, said tabs being adhesively secured one to each of said panels, whereby said carton may be collapsed with said side walls coextensive one another, and with said end Walls, panels and flaps infolded between said side walls, and a strap handle extending over the top of said carton, the opposite end portions of said handle being secured to the 5 outer surface of said side wall medially between the ends thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,066,753 Weiss Jan. 5, 1937 2,348,378 Goodyear May 9, 1944 2,603,409 Crary July 15, 1952 2,703,198 Arneson Mar. 1, 1955 

